GREEN LANDSCAPING TIPS
We all want our yards and gardens to be beautiful, green, and inviting, but also making them good for the environment is just as important. Whether you have just moved in, or are looking to make your existing outdoor living space an earth-friendly place, here are a few tips that can help! Expand your garden, shrink your yard. Grass yards take a lot of time and resources to maintain; replacing them with wildflower gardens or gravel living spaces can reduce your water and fuel consumption. Replace your gas or electric mower with a reel lawn mower. They do take more work, buy it’s a great way to get in a workout! Purchase a rain barrel. Collecting rainwater and using it to water your yard and plants is a great conservation technique, and will reduce your water bill. Compost. Maintaining compost will not only reduce your contribution to landfills, but gives you high quality, free fertilizer for your plants. Plant a tree. Trees not only reduce the CO² in our environment, they also provide shade to your yard and home. Create an organic vegetable garden. Vegetable gardens can provide you and your family with a delicious, healthy, and very inexpensive food source, and are a great addition to any garden. Plant indigenous plants. Plants that are native to your location require a lot less maintenance and thrive in their natural conditions. Eliminate harmful pesticides from your garden. There are a number of alternatives to the use of toxic pesticides, which pollute both our personal living space and the planet. Your local garden supply center can help you find an alternative that is right for your garden or yard.
GREEN LIVING DECORATING TIPS
Get plants. Lots of them. Not only will they purify and oxygenate the air you breathe, but they will offer a calm oasis in your home. Plants in unexpected places, such as bathrooms or kitchens, are stylish and functional. Larger scale plants look gorgeous in rooms with high ceilings. Re-use and recycle! Visit local flea markets, antique fairs, and yard sales to find one-of-a-kind items that will add character and warmth to your new home. By purchasing used or refurbished pieces, you are cutting down on consumerism. Choose paint wisely. Some paints release toxins into the air for years after they have been applied. Choose natural paints with zero VOC or low VOC. Make “big” decisions such as flooring changes and renovations with care, and give thought to the environment. There are many options such as bamboo and cork flooring, which not only look stunning but are eco-friendly! Choose textiles, such as linens, curtains, and carpets, that are made of natural or recycled materials. Re-purpose items you already own! Used mason jars make gorgeous candle holders, kitchen bowls can find new homes as bathroom organizers, and bedrooms can become cozier with the artful placement of natural objects from family trips to the beach or the forest!
HELPFUL TIPS TO MAKE YOUR CLOTHES LAST LONGER
Wash in cold water. It not only uses less energy, it’s not as harsh on your clothing. Prepare your clothes properly for the wash. Buckle buckles and zip zippers to ensure that nothing snags. Hang drying doesn’t need to be just for delicates-save energy and extend the life of all your clothes by line or hang drying. Wash darks (especially jeans) inside out to retain that dark color. Read labels! Most laundry problems can be avoided by properly following instructions for care. Take good care of items once they are clean-that means folding items that should be folded, and hanging items that need to be hung. Don’t leave clothes in dry-cleaning bags-over time, the bags can have a yellowing effect on clothing. Speaking of dry cleaning, see if there is an eco-friendly dry cleaner in your area.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR GARAGE MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
Eco-friendly choices are a part of an overall lifestyle. Here are a few handy tips for keeping your garage green and clean! Keep it tidy! Clean out your garage and be sure to safely do away with any hazardous materials. Old paint can be brought to a hardware shop for disposal. Never pour chemicals down the drain! Choose motion sensor lighting-it’s wonderful for security, convenience, and energy efficiency! Organize all your items and think of ways to reuse or recycle old items. Unwanted items can be donated to charity. Host a garage sale to give your old items new homes! If replacing garage doors, consider choosing an eco-friendly garage door system. Choose eco-friendly garden accessories, compost bins, outdoor lighting, and pool and spa supplies. Be sure that the entranceway from your home to your garage is well-insulated to prevent heat from escaping.
SAVING ENERGY AROUND THE HOUSE
Plant Trees-few people realize just what wonders a few well-placed trees can work! A tree can produce both shade and shelter for your home, reducing both heating and cooling costs (plus, it will add to the value of your home!). Use only Energy Star fluorescent light bulbs; when you are shopping for new appliances, be sure to choose energy efficient models. Remember that every item has both a purchase price and an operating price! Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120° F. Be sure your home is well insulated! Attics, ceilings, exterior walls, floors, and crawl spaces are all areas to check. Adding insulation to your attic is one of the most cost-effective ways to control the temperature in your home all year long. Be sure your windows are efficient, using double-paned or storm windows. Be sure the flue damper is closed when your fireplace is not in use, , in order to stop warm air from escaping. Turn off bathroom fans and kitchen fans promptly after use. When you want to make your house warmer, be sure that all South facing windows are clean and that the drapes are open, allowing sunlight to enter. If you own a manual-defrost refrigerator, be sure to defrost it regularly. If possible, air-dry your clothes rather than throwing them in the dryer!
MAKING YOUR HOME OFFICE GREENER
Whether you work from home, or just have a desk in the corner, here are a few simple tips to make your home office a greener place. It may even make it a more efficient space, too! Choosing to buy a laptop over a desktop computer saves a lot on your energy bill. They use almost 50% less electricity, and even less when you use them on their battery. Keep your printer, fax machine, and computer shut off when you are not using them, and turn your power bar off at night. Switch all your bills to e-bills, and subscribe to online banking. This will save a lot of trees, and make your desk a neater place. Try to reduce the number of documents you print, and use both sides of the paper whenever possible. Only purchase post-consumer paper. Use energy efficient bulbs for your desk lamp or office space. If you are in the market for office furniture look for used. It saves the environment and your pocketbook. Place a recycling bin next to your trash can. If it’s there, you’ll use it! Consider purchasing your energy from companies that provide it from renewable sources. Purchase environmentally-friendly office supplies. From pencils made of recycled paper, to non-toxic printer cartridges, there is a wide selection available. Take yourself off any catalog mailing lists. Usually all the products featured can be viewed and purchased online.
GREEN MOVING: HOW TO MAKE YOUR MOVE MORE EARTH-FRIENDLY
Sell or donate unwanted items and furniture before you move. This means you will need fewer boxes, throw out less garbage, and need less gas to move your things. Try to find used boxes or reusable containers to pack your belongings. A great place to look for them is online through sites such as Craigslist, and it will even save you money. Some moving companies also offer this service. Use old newsprint or your towels to pack fragile items, rather than using bubble wrap. Take yourself off mailing lists for publications you no longer want or need. This will mean that your junk mail will not move with you, and you’ll save trees at the same time. Use environmentally-friendly products to clean your home after the move. This will also make getting into the habit of using these products in your new home easier. Practice your new earth-friendly habits in your new home. Once you are settled in your new home keep the green movement going by setting up a recycling center, using green products for decorating and renovating, and employing green gardening methods. It all adds up!
QUICK TIPS TO GREEN CLEANING
You can clean practically anything with vinegar! Just add a bit of warm water and scrub away. The vinegar smell dissipates quickly. Clean the microwave by placing a microwaveable bowl filled with water and the juice of a lemon in the microwave oven, bringing it to a boil. The moisture will loosen any bits in the interior of the oven-simply wipe it away until it sparkles! Open those windows! Letting the air flow through your home is one of the quickest and easiest way to freshen up the air. Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet (it’s the queen of odor eating!) and let it set for about twenty minutes before vacuuming it up! Only buy “green” or organic cleaning products. It’s safer for you and your family than having harsh chemicals around your home. Or employ a company that uses green products.
RECYCLING TIPS
For some of us, recycling is second nature. For others, it’s a new habit. Throwing cardboard boxes in the recycling bin is one option, but here are a few unique ideas for ways you can get better use of recycling in your life! Rinse any glass or plastic items well to prevent a smelly recycling area. When possible, re-use items rather than recycling them. Choose products with less packaging, or recyclable packaging. Give away items you no longer want-don’t throw them out! Look into local non-profit organizations that will recycle your cell phone, computer parts, or electronics. Reuse items and products as much as possible. Reusable dishes, towels, containers, and cutlery will greatly reduce your amount of waste! Consider repairing an old item rather than throwing it in the garbage. You might be able to find a new use for it, or get it up and running with a few simply adjustments! Make sure that the schools, organizations, and workplaces your family frequents all have recycling programs in place.
REDUCING YOUR ENERGY CONSUMPTION WITHOUT SPENDING A DIME!
Turn off lights when leaving a room. It seems obvious, but most of us are still guilty of forgetting from time to time! Unplug your kitchen appliances such as the toaster and coffee maker when you are not using them. Even when sitting idle, plugged in appliances consume small amounts of electricity that can easily add up over time. Plug your computer and printer into a power bar, and shut them off when they are not in use. Hang your laundry outside to dry when the weather is nice. It means not running your costly dryer, and it will give your clothes a fresh natural scent! Wash your clothes in cold water. There are very effective cold water detergents available on the market that can make this a viable option. Turn down the thermostat in winter, and up in the summer. Also consider delaying turning the heating and cooling on until you really need it. Keep the blinds closed in summer and open in winter. The sun can really heat up a room! Consider taking shorter or fewer showers, and try turning the water temperature down. Reducing hot water reduces your electricity bill. Only run your dishwasher when it is full, and scrape your dishes clean rather than rinsing them when loading. Try to use your stovetop or microwave to cook more often. Cooking in bulk and freezing also means using the oven less often as well as more efficiently!
